If you will serve our Maker with a full and faithful heart, He will put people in your life strategically, when you need them. Seemingly from nowhere will come mentors and friends that He means to guide and lead you, if you will let them influence you, in Christ’s path.

I have friends that I have known literally all my life that have remained faithful and true to me. I have brothers and sisters in Christ that have rendered holy, Heavenly guidance at times when I could not see clearly myself.

The blessing of relationships that are grounded in Him and strengthened by the Holy Spirit are of inestimable worth to me. A Heaven sent companion earlier in my life, literally saved my life many times over. The debt of gratitude I owe is inexpressible. My children and I have been through a lot together and yet I treasure their love more than anything, I can imagine. As the years unfold, I look forward to enjoying their friendship as much as anything else I can imagine looking forward to. They are wonderful adults today.

I have friends that are worth more to me than all the money in the world. I have an attorney friend, who has been an unbelievable source of practical wisdom and a deep source of spiritual understanding. His practical Insight on how to be a good man and yet professionally accomplished has been of incomparable worth. When I need someone to give me very insightful wise Council, I know I can call on him. Another brother in Christ, literally employed and sheltered me a time in my life when it helped me do God’s will, that I could not otherwise have done.

It amazes me the friends that I have that are so reliable and deeply committed to me. I have had and continue to have deeply committed Christian minister friends, who weren’t concerned about their title but truly concerned about my soul. And their teaching and training has left an indelible imprint only me, and continues to do so.

My Treasure House of incredible friends is deep and wide. I have a friend on the west coast that I went to college with, who is a world-class leadership trainer, yet he remains a Priceless and devoted friend that I still share with 40 years later, regularly in Christian love and fellowship. There is a friend who was a leadership administrator in college, who literally saved my whole future by believing in me. I have a friend in Texas who has partnered with me in writing Endeavors and helps me realize my creative potential, but more than that she is an unequaled Shining Light of Jesus, who labors with me, in fulfilling our Destinies in Christ. Her Fellowship has filled a hole in my heart, that was left when my sister graduated from this realm..

And it’s not just that people have helped me in the past but I know I can firmly count on friends today. I have a brother from another mother, in Florida who has several times put his own life on the line for me, and who would do so again, today. I’m absolutely sure there is no cost that he would not undertake on my behalf. He and I will be closer than Blood Brothers, until one of us dies. I have friends in recovery that have shared their hearts and soul with me and vice versa. I have a local friend, who doesn’t just say that he loves me. But he is in the middle of every creative work that I Envision to help and bless others.

I tell people that I made at least three wise decisions in my life. I believe this is true. I gave my heart to Jesus. And I have twice given my heart away in marriage. And I would not be alive today we’re it not for their love. My lovely wife Dawn is absolutely devoted in her companionship and faithfulness. There is no untruth in her. She is the absolute unequivocal example of loyalty, devotion and love. I can count on her completely to be my beautiful, faithful, caring mate.

And then there are the things that I could not have had any influence over and did not deserve, such as my blessing of wonderful parents. I lost my mother many years ago, but there has never been a more exemplary saint then Louise Carter. Her grace and love and spiritual grounding continues to guide me tremendously today. Also, I had a strong, wise and courageous father, John W. Carter Sr., who was such an incredible example, that I never had to look any farther than home for a Hero.

And certainly I have been blessed with siblings of amazing value. I have a brother that has always been a model of professional accomplishment. Though we have fought a lot through the years, it seems that our bond only grows stronger, as our days get longer. There are common roots and bonds from our past that I can share and vice versa with him, that I can with no one else. I had a sister that my meager words can never begin to describe, who was my dearest friend. We shared literally everything. There was nothing in my heart or mind that I could not talk to my sister about. We talked about everything through the course of our lives together. She was my closest confidant. She still guides me in my dreams today.

I have been blessed with athletic and martial arts instructors, who have given hours and hours and hours, to share with me an art of importance and meaning. One of these, has taken me under his wing and continues to encourage and Lead Me towards even greater Heights of achievement, in Humble service.

Gosh, I have even been amazingly lucky and blessed in animals that have been amazing companions. At certain points when it seemed that I had no one else to turn to, I’ve had dogs and cats that have been unwaveringly devoted.

And then there are those friends who made such an important impact in my life, who have left the world of the living. Just two weeks ago I lost a wonderful friend; who I had adopted as a second father figure. His Sage advice and warm humor help me through perhaps the biggest crisis of my life.

And now, I have colleagues at work that have become more than workmates but are now dear and devoted friends. I know as the years unravel and roll on that I will be able to look back at some of these as being an additional wave of love and support, beyond what I have already experienced.

So I write this little essay article to remind myself of that which I can never forget, the beauty of my friends. Friendship is absolutely Priceless. I guess I’ll end this little dissertation, with a bit of humor. The quote of the Cookie Monster: “sometimes me say, what is friend, and then me say, friend is someone to share the last cookie with.”

Oh my, how much each one of us needs our friends and needs to be a good friend to others our self!!! This is perhaps, the greatest mission in life.